Urban's inaugural season was marked with the backstage drama of declining ratings and constant media attention on the ongoing apparent feud between Minaj and Carey. But the country singer understands that being on a panel also means being judged himself.

"It's funny. I think everybody is judging," said Urban, who will perform his new single "A Little Bit of Everything" on Idol's Thursday night finale. "Everyone at home is judging us, judging them, judging everybody."

Whether Urban is invited back by producers is yet to be revealed, but he will sit on the judges' panel at least one more time Thursday as either Kree Harrison or Candice Glover takes home the title of season 12's American Idol.